Development Diary

Now that it is the end of this college year, I feel that in comparison to when I first started the course to now at the end, I have changed massively as a person.

At the beginning of the year, my attendance was poor, I was frequently missing lessons and my predicted grade was lowering as time went on, eventually I was predicted to get mostly passes, however the merit was still present.

Since around March this has changed, my attendance gradually increased and my dedication to my work did too, I'm now rarely missing lessons and my predicted grade has managed to move upwards also.

However not only has my attendance been a massive part of my progression, my work has too. I was frequently missing deadlines at the start of the year and was also behind on work; due to this I have missed the opportunity in some units of even getting a distinction. Though at the end of the year this also changed, I am now up to date and on track with my work, in some units on the way to getting a distinction.

Here is an overview on each of my units individually.

Organisation Security Systems
In this unit I think I have drastically improved, at the start of the year I was hardly attending, missing deadlines and behind on work. However this changed and now i'm up to date with all the work, I'm within touching distance of a distinction and with a little touching up of work; I should be able to achieve it.

Key Skills (ICT)
In this unit, I have improved but I'm still behind. However I'm a lot further ahead then what I was several months ago, I plan to finish this unit by the end of the year and will work hard to do so.

Computer Systems
Even though I started this unit extremely poorly, where I missed a massive amount of lessons and work, I am now up to date and a distinction is almost mine. I have done all the work I've just got to make some small adjustments to then achieve the distinction.

Communication & Employability Skills for IT
I started this unit poorly; due to this my lecturer has only allowed me the possibility of getting a pass. However, upon completion of this blog post I will obtain that pass. I accept my punishment for not attending, but instead of seeing it as a negative I'd rather see it as a positive, this will motivate me in the future to prevent the circumstances from happening again, this way I'm always determined to do well.

Website Production and Management
I started this unit fairly well, but my attendance was low so I still missed the work. However I didn't lose any knowledge because as I have mentioned in previous blog posts, I already knew how to make websites, due to this I found it easy to catch up and I'm now able to achieve a distinction, I've almost completed the unit too so I plan to do so.

Principles of Software Design and Development
I started this unit well and finished well, I've got a distinction and completed all the work and I'm proud to say so. I am going to use this distinction as motivation throughout my other units and hopefully I'll be able to get a distinction in several others!

Principles of Computer Networks
I completed this unit back in February, I achieved a merit and even though it is good, I feel that if I had been as motivated then as I am now, I may have been able to achieve a distinction, regardless I'm still happy with the grade.

Advanced Database Skills
I started this unit poorly, I rarely attended because I found it too easy, however as the year progressed it became more challenging and now I'm very close to a distinction, with the update of one piece of work I should achieve it and then that'll be another distinction towards my final grade.

Systems Analysis & Design
This unit started later on during the year, and due to this I have been motivated from the start. The only problem I have is the work involved, the majority of the course requires group work, however 2 of my group members quit the course and the remaining one is rarely in. However I believe I can still get a distinction and plan to put in the extra time to get one, I will hopefully get it with enough dedication.

Web Server Scripting
I also started this unit later on during the year, even though I disliked it from the start. Not because of the subject, but because I knew a server scripting language which could be used throughout the unit but my lecturer wouldn't allow me to use it. So I had to learn another which made it more confusing switching between the two, however I adapted and put in the work and now I have almost got a distinction. Once i've handed a few final pieces of work in I should be able to achieve it, I hope I do so that I gain even more marks towards my final grade.

To conclude, as a person I have changed since the start of the course. As you can see my attendance has improved, my work, my deadlines, my predicted grade and my overall grade, this is all due to me adapting and dedicated myself to the work and eventually completing it. I am happy to say that if all goes well, I'll be able to achieve 7 distinctions, 1 merit and 1 pass this year. However despite this it could have been 9 distinctions if I had this same determination and motivation from the start rather than the end. Although this is true, I won't see it as a negative, instead I'll use it to keep myself hardworking next year, so that I'm still on track to receiving a final grade of DDD.

That's my last post, thanks for reading!
Kurtis

Well, since my last blog I feel that a lot has changed with my attitude towards college. For example as I previously stated my motivation within college was high but my actual motivation towards attending college wasn’t, since then I have tried to be more determined within college and my attendance has quite drastically shot up. I feel like I am going to maintain this attitude and always stay on top of the course regardless of what is thrown my way.

 

Also, I previously spoke of my high amount of work that is due, well that has surely changed and I’m now up to date on many of my units, this is because I’ve worked more frequently at home and also worked more thoroughly in class. Being more up to date is a great motivator for the rest of my college work as it lowers my stress levels and allows me to socialise more too, this makes life less of a all work no play policy. Though even if I have progressed I am still behind in some of my units, this however should be resolved by my next blog as I plan to keep myself even more motivated regardless of what I have to do.

Another area which I feel I need to improve is my ability to self-study. In the majority of my units I am required to do tasks which involve me working from home and learning myself. In the past I have struggled with learning from reading and though since starting the course I have become more able to do so, I plan to maintain this progression so that by my next blog post I am able to do it easily and more efficiently. This is vital ability I need to improve as it will really boost my level of understanding within each unit as well as my ability to carry out each and every task required.

 

Well, as I believe that I have enough areas on which I can improve and will aim to complete these by my next blog, once again all I can say is we shall see.

Thanks for reading,
Kurtis

Course Units
The course units of to which I will be covering over the next 2 years are as follows.

• Organisational Security Systems
• Key Skills (ICT)
• Computer Systems
• Communication & Employability Skills for IT
• Website Production and Management
• Principles of Software Design and Development
• Advanced Database Skills
• Principles of Computer Networks

What have I learnt since the beginning of the course?
Since starting the course in September there has been a number of things I have learnt such as new programs and new skills, new programs such as Microsoft Visual Basic, Wire Shark and Packet Tracker which are used frequently throughout, these are all explained in further detail below.

Organisation Security Systems
My lecturer for this unit is Gordon Shering, this unit basically covers all the security related issues that are involved within organisations and there systems. Since starting the course I have learnt in detail about such threats including DOS attacks, social engineering and password guessing techniques. I feel Gordon is a teacher I get along with and so have learnt well in this unit, I am a bit a far behind with the work but I plan to get up to date by my next blog. I don’t feel I am struggling with any aspects of this unit I just feel I am being lazy with the completion of the work and handouts.

Key Skills (ICT)
My lecturer for this unit is Karen Dunville, this unit is basically the essential skills required within the ICT industry, these skills are key when it comes to employment as it shows that I am able to do the basic requirements within the ICT industry. Since starting I don’t feel I have learnt much as I have always have a good grasp of ICT, although I may have not learnt a massive amount I do enjoy this lesson as it is very hands on. In this lesson we do a lot of tasks and handouts to prepare us for the exams ahead, I feel I will easily go into these exams and pass and I am able to do the tasks given to me quickly and easily.

Computer Systems
My lecturer for this unit is Wahid Khan, this unit is based on the computer system itself. Since starting the course I have learnt in every lesson of which I have attended, the problem is I’ve hardly attended them. I have a tendency to go home early as miss this lesson which has unfortunately made a negative impact with this unit, missing these lessons has made me miss out on important information that is key to my assignment, which furthermore I’m very behind on. I plan to make my attendance with this lesson extremely more frequent so that I can catch up on the work I’ve missed and ensure I’m no longer behind.

Communication & Employability Skills for IT
My lecturer for this unit is Sue Marr, this unit is based on communication and employability skills surrounding the IT industry. Since starting the course I haven’t learnt much in this unit, this is partly due to my lack of attendance. However a larger part of the reason is because in my previous school I did a project within English and ICT that is very similar to this unit. I don’t really enjoy this unit much, this is because I don’t find it too challenging or appealing. I plan to make my attendance with this lesson more frequent so I can try and get a distinction. Website Production and Management My lecturer for this unit is Sue Brandreth, this unit is based on websites including the production, management and maintaining of them. Since starting the course I haven’t learnt anything in this unit, this is because I’ve been doing web pages as a hobby since I was around 13 years old. I’m not enjoying this unit right now as it’s not challenging at all and I’m getting easily bored due to this; however I hope I believe it will become more interesting in the not so far future.

Principles of Software Design and Development
My lecturer for this unit is Paula Hobday, this unit is based on programming and the design and development of them. Since starting this course I have gained a lot of knowledge within this unit, this is because I’ve never done it before so it’s a fresh and new challenge, which is why I find it so appealing. I enjoy it greatly and believe that if I continue to do well I will achieve a distinction. Advanced Database Skills My lecturer for this unit is John Eeuwens, this unit is based on databases and everything surrounding them. Since starting this course, much like website production and management, I haven’t learning anything in this unit. This is because throughout GCSE ICT I learnt database technologies in depth; this is the main reason why I am not finding this unit too interesting. However, I hope that this unit becomes more challenging and therefore interesting.

Principles of Computer Networks
My lecturer for this unit is Steve Deards, this unit is based on networking and the principles involved. Since starting this course, much like principles of software design and development, I have learnt a great deal in this unit, this is once again because I’ve never done it before. I enjoy a new challenge and this is why I am enjoying this unit, it’s a very appealing unit and I am considering taking when I have to choose my course strand, however I will think about this nearer the time.

I feel I have learnt well in each and every unit so far, my grasp of each one has helped me progress easily and has made me develop my skills further. Many aspects have come into involvement whilst learning but I feel those units that have been more practical based I have improved more quickly then those that are more theory based. I believe this shows that I am able to learn more efficiently when I am faced with a practical task. Another great aspect that has helped me progress is my motivation, I feel that my motivation through the course so far has enabled me to learn at a much faster rate then usual, this is because my motivation has been nothing but positive.

In some ways I think I could improve my performance, for example if I daydreamed less. Yes it may only be small but my mind seems to drift often due to my lack of concentration, I believe that if I keep myself even more motivated that I will be able to improve my ability to learn even further then previously before.

At the start of the course I didn’t feel like I was enjoying it as much as I thought I would be, mainly due to the cost of travel and distance I had to come to do so, now however I feel much more determined. This is a great example of how I’ve improved my personal qualities from attending college, my SWOT analysis was a major part of this progression as it helped me identify the problems with doing so and a way to overcome it.

A lot has gone well; I have made new friends and have learnt a lot since the start of this course, as previously explained many things have become a major part in why I have progressed. Though even with such success there has been parts of the course that have not gone so well, for example the absolute worst problem is the fact that I’m so behind in work, though I will hopefully be further up to date by my next blog post, I guess we shall see.

Thanks for reading,
Kurtis